The Labor enquirer., 1887-12-31

alienable rights. " ain q ~ GAcllilno u,
system which eompolo 49, u ~ thsd
fellow creatnresfof ~ - q G6d1 "a 70 q
and permits monopolia - oepeivs laboe !
IFS natural opportunities lbr smploymeni
thusfllling the land With tsanpsand paupesu
and bringing about an unnatuEnl compo(i
tion, which tends 70 reduce W1gss 70 starva
tion rates and to make TIE Woalth.producel
the industrial slave Of fthcss Who grow mol
by his toll.
Holding. moreover. that ths advantags.
arising nom social growth and Improvement
belong to society ~ large. ws aim 1t the abol
ition Of the system which mskesauch benefl
cent inventions a. the railroad and telegraph
means for the oppression Of the people and
the aggrandizement OF an aristocracy ol
wealth and power.
We declare the true purpose Of government
to be the maintenance Of that sacred right Of
property which gives 70 every one opportu.
nifty to employ his labor and security that he
shall enjoy its fruits; 70 prevent the strong
nom expressing the weas and the unscrupu.
lous from robbing the honest; and to do for
the equal benefit Of al such things a. can be
better done by organised society than by in
dividuals; and We aim ct the abolition OF all
laws which give to any class Of citizens an ad-
vantage. either judicial, fnancial, industrial
or political. that arc not equally shared by
all others.
We call upon allwho seek the emancipation
oflabor and who would male the American
Union and Its component states democratic
commonwealth Of really free and independ-
ent citizens. to ignore all minor differences
and join with us In orgsnixing . great ma
tional paaty on this broal platform Of nat
aral right and equal justice.
We do not aim ct securing any forced
equality in the distribution of wealth. We
do not propose that the state shall attempt To-
control production, conduct distribution, or
In anywise interfere with the equal rights Of
Others. Nor do We propose that the state
shall take possession OF land and either work
it or rent 1t out.
What we propose is not the disturbing Of
any man in his holding or title, but by abol-
ishing alltaxes on industry or IT. products
to leave 70 the producer the full fruits Of his
exertion, and by taxation Of land values 70
the exclusion improvements, to devote to
the common use those values which, arising
not from exertion Of the individual. but from
growth OF society, belong TO the community
as whole. This Increased taxation Of land,
not according to its area, but according to its
value, must, while relieving working farmers
and small homestead owners Of the undue
burdens now imposed upon them, make It
Improbable to hold land for speculation, and
thus throw open abundant opportunities for
the employment Of labor and the building up
OF homes.
While thus simplifying government, by
doing away with horde Of officials required
by the present system Of taxntion, with its
incentives TO fraud and corruption. we would
further promote the common veal and fur
ther secure equal rights ofall by placing nm.
der public contrel such agencies a are in
their nature monopolies. We would have
our municipalities supply their inhabitants
with water, light and heat; we would have
the general government issue all money with
out the Intervention Of banks; we would add
postal telegraph system and postal savings
banks to the postal service, and would as.
sumo public control and ownership of those
iron roads which have become highways OF
modern commerce.
While declaring the foregoing to be the fun-
oamental principles and aims of the United
Labor Party, and while conscious that no re-
form can give effectual and permanent relief
10 labor that does not involve legal recogni-
tion Of equal rights to natural opportunities.
we nevertheless. as measures Of relief from
some Of the evil effects Of ignoring those
rights, favor such legislation as may tend 70
reduce the hours Of labor, to prevent employ
ment OF children Of tender years, to avoid
competition OF convict labor with honest in
dustry, to secure sanitary inspection Of tene-
ments, factories and mines, and to put an
end to the abuse ofthe conspiracy laws.
We desire also to simplify The procedure of
our courts, and diminish the expenses of le.
gal proceedings, that the poor may be c,acsl
on an equality with the rich, and the long
delays which now result in such scandalous
misratiiases Of justice may be prevented;
and since the ballot is the only means by
which, In our republic, the redress OF political
and SOCIAL grievances Is TO be soush.. ",
especially spd emphatically declare for ihs
adoption OF Whist is known as the "Austra.
Ian system OF voting" in order that the
effectusl secrecy Of the ballot and the relief
ofcandidates for public ofices from the heavy
expenses now imposed upon them may pre-
vent bribery and intimidation, do away "
the practical discrimination in favor o. .,e
rich and the inscriptions, and essen the
pernicious influence Of money N politics.
In support Of these aims wesoliclt the Co
operation Of all patriotic citizens who, sick
ofthe degradation Of politics, desire by con-
stitutional methods TO establish justice, 70
preserve liberty to extend the anirit NJ rr~tnr